CNN Fires Anchor Rick Sanchez After Remarks About Jews & Jon Stewart

CNN has moved quickly and cut ties with veteran news anchor Rick Sanchez who made some edgy comments on a radio program Thursday. Sanchez called "The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart a bigot and expressed observations about Jewish roles in American media and society. Mediaite's Steve Krakauer is now reporting that CNN has released this statement:

"Rick Sanchez is no longer with the company. We thank Rick for his years of service and we wish him well."

Our initial report describes the scenario on the radio show:

Appearing on Pete Dominick’s satellite radio show, Sanchez railed against “elite, Northeast establishment liberals“ who ”deep down, when they look at a guy like me, they see a guy automatically who belongs in the second tier, and not the top tier.” He then lumped the Comedy Central hosts into that group, and especially went after Stewart:

During his attack on Stewart, the radio host pointed out that Stewart is Jewish and pressed Sanchez for examples of bigotry.  Sanchez demurred but revealed a possible motivation for the attack: "That‘s what happens when you watch yourself on his show everyday and all they ever do is call you 'stupid.'"

Sanchez then talked about Jewish influence in the media -- even at CNN:

Very powerless people… [snickers] He’s such a minority, I mean, you know [sarcastically]… Please, what are you kidding? … I’m telling you that everybody who runs CNN is a lot like Stewart, and a lot of people who run all the other networks are a lot like Stewart, and to imply that somehow they — the people in this country who are Jewish — are an oppressed minority? Yeah. [sarcastically]

TV Newser points out:

It was just last Friday that Sanchez’s boss CNN/U.S. president Jon Klein was shown the door.  In his first major personnel decision, Sanchez’s dismissal was handled by new CNN/U.S. president Ken Jautz. Sanchez anchored the 3-5pmET block on CNN called “Rick’s List.” CNN Newsroom will run in its place beginning Monday.  Until last Wednesday, Sanchez had also hosted an 8pmET edition of “Rick’s List.”

TV Newser also notes that Sanchez's appearance on the radio show was part of the PR tour for his new book, "Conventional Idiocy." Exactly.